Tuesday, November 29, 2022

BLOG TOUR - Missing Girl at Frozen Falls

 

DESCRIPTION:

She lay in the frosted grass behind Frozen Falls. Her eyes were wide open, and the wind blew her hair, ash-blond locks reflecting the blue sky. Her face, beautiful even in death, was pale, as if the bitter cold from the mountain had drained the color from her cheeks.


On a crisp autumn day in the small town of Mount Chester, Detective Kay Sharp comes face-to-face with the past she has spent the last decade running from. Her ex-husband, Brian, has been accused of murder.


Seeing Brian brings a flood of painful memories—he betrayed her in the worst possible way. Yet despite her heartbreak, Kay is willing to put her career on the line to prove his innocence.


Brian is accused of killing Kay’s former best friend, Rachel—the woman he cheated on Kay with, getting her pregnant. The blood drains from Kay’s face; she received a voicemail from Rachel two days ago. “I hope you’ll forgive me,” she’d said, her voice fraught with tears. “I know I have no right, but I need you.” Kay’s stomach plummets. By the time she called back, Rachel was already dead. Could Brian really be the murderer?


Kay faces pressure from her crime team, who don’t want her working on an investigation so close to home. But she’s willing to risk everything—she vows to get justice for Rachel.


When Kay visit’s Rachel’s mother, she uncovers a heart-stopping discovery that makes the case even more critical: Rachel’s eight-year-old daughter, Holly, is missing. Could the little girl still be alive?


Up against the most complex—and most personal—case of her career, can she save precious Holly before it’s too late? And will Kay’s determination to find out the truth lead to justice—or be her undoing?


Thrillers don’t get more gripping than this! You’ll speed through this addictive, twist-filled page-turner with a racing heart. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Caine.


BUY LINK:
MY THOUGHTS:
 
Title:   
Missing Girl at Frozen Falls
Author:  Leslie Wolfe 
Series:  Detective Kay Sharp Book #5
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers 
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:   328
Date of Publication:   November 29, 2022
My Rating:   5 Stars

Detective Kay Sharp is not very happy that her ex husband Brian has come to her for help. He has been accused of murder and he knows that he has to turn himself in, but he wants her help first. This proves very difficult for Kay because it brings back difficult memories from the past and yet she finds that she cannot say no to him. Not only is Kay a cop, but Brian is as well. 

If things were not already bad enough, when Kay discovers who it was that Brian is said to have killed, she is completely floored. The murder victim is her former best friend Rachel, Years ago, once Kay became aware that Rachel was sleeping with Brian, their relationship completely fizzled. In fact, a voicemail that was sent to her by Rachel just two days before her death is something that Kay ignored at first. Now she knows that she has to help Brian while working hard to discover who it was that killed Rachel. Kay’s involvement in this case just might endanger her career. She also has to determine how much she can trust Brian.

 To say that this case is close to home is an understatement, and her team is not happy that she is working on it nor are the people that Brian works with are happy that Kay is desperately searching for answers. And Kay’s desperation for answers increases greatly when she discovers that Rachel’s daughter Holly ding for Kay as she works to find the killer and what happened to Holly. 

What a remarkable addition to an excellent series by Leslie Wolfe. Thanks to intense drama, incredible tension and several twists and turns, this intriguing book had me reading late into the night.  Book six in this cannot come too soon.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.



Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 




ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.

Her novels have a consistent presence in genre bestselling lists and a solid sales track record, with more than a million copies sold. Her bestselling series include the Detective Kay Sharp series, the Tess Winnett series, the Baxter & Holt series, and the Alex Hoffmann series.

Author Social Media Links

Website: www.WolfeNovels.com
Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/leslie-wolfe


Monday, November 28, 2022

BLOG TOUR - Coming Home

Title:   Coming Home
Author:  Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher:  Berkley Books
Series:  Woodland Park Firefighters #1
Genre:   Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:  352
Date of Publication:   November 29, 2022 
My Rating:   5 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

When three army veterans become volunteer firefighters in small-town Colorado, one's high school romance is rekindled in this sweet romance by bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray

In Woodland Park, a small town nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak, Anderson Kelly and Chelsea Davis were once the high school “it” couple—the star quarterback & prom king and the valedictorian & cheerleader. They broke up when Anderson joined the army and one poor decision at a fraternity party changed Chelsea’s life. Now, she works long shifts in a senior center to support her eight-year-old son, Jack.

After multiple tours in Afghanistan, Anderson has changed, too—he is physically scarred but mentally strong and eager to remain of service, he decides to move back to Woodland Park and become a firefighter.

Anderson and Chelsea steer clear of each other to avoid reopening old wounds, until they are forced to reconnect through the senior center and the embers of their love start to flare once more.

When Chelsea and Jack are involved in a dangerous collision on Ute Pass, Anderson realizes that he’s ready to risk everything—even his heart—for one more chance with Chelsea.


MY THOUGHTS:
 
Anderson Kelly and Chelsea Davis had a wonderfully sweet romance when they were in high school. However, Anderson joined the army and their relationship fell apart. Meanwhile, Chelsea raised her son Jack alone. One night, one mistake on Chelsea’s part, but that doesn’t make Chelsea’s love Jack any less. 

Well-meaning friends think that the pair should get back together now that Anderson is back in town. Now a firefighter after several tours in Afghanistan. Jack came back badly scarred from his time in the war, but when Chelsea sees him, all she sees is the incredibly handsome strong man that she never stopped loving.

Coming Home is an absolutely touching second chance romance. It’s easy to see from the start that this pair are destined to be together. However with hurt feelings that were never resolved, Chelsea and Jack do what they can to fight their rekindling feelings. Pulled together more than once due to the local senior center, the more time they spend together, the harder it is to fight what is now happening between them.

This is the first book in a new series by Shelley Shepard Gray, and if we go by how warm and wonderful this book is, no doubt the other books in this series will be just as delightful. I love a character-driven story like this, one that makes it so easy to connect with all of the characters. And what I loved about this book is not only did we have Chelsea and Jack, but we had her young son and some of the seniors at the center. All of these characters were fabulous. Gray’s books have always been fabulous reads and Coming Home is a perfect example of that. 

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy the following excerpt:


Chelsea's back was to the main entrance of Granger's but it didn't stop the fresh burst of cold air from sinking into her skin. She was starting to wish she'd chosen a thicker sweater for her night out with Mallory and Kaylee.



Granger's Last Stand wasn't the only option in Woodland Park for burgers, wings, and beer, but it was hands down everyone's favorite spot. Located on the main drag through town, the restaurant had been expanded multiple times over the last twenty years. Now it boasted indoor, patio, and rooftop dining. Local bands played all summer and from time to time in the winter high school and college kids played acoustic guitar near the fireplace.



Tonight, since there was still a chill in the air, most everyone was inside. A couple of people were keeping the old jukebox playing and the buzz from the crowd provided the rest of the noise.



After eight hours of working at the Woodland Park Senior Center, Chelsea was ready to relax and catch up with her two best friends. "Mal, you never finished telling us about the couple who came into the boutique today," she said.



The petite brunette shrugged. "It wasn't all that notable . . . beyond the fact that the husband sat on the pink velvet chair by the door while his wife spent almost a thousand dollars on end-of-season fleece!"



"To be fair, that stuff adds up," Kaylee said. "Last time I bought a Patagonia jacket, I paid three hundred."



"Are you still wearing it, Kay?"



Kaylee picked up the sleeve of her jacket that was draped over her chair. "Obviously."



"Well, there you go."



Chelsea hid her smile by taking another sip of wine. The conversation was nothing new. Kaylee liked to carp about the prices at Mallory's store but always managed to stop by to drool over every new shipment of high-end ski, apres-ski, and mountain gear. Since Chelsea couldn't afford any of it, she enjoyed simply listening and being supportive. "Well, that's great. I'm glad they stopped in."



"Me, too," Mallory said with a smile. "They were on their way to Cripple Creek to gamble. I hope they come in again before they head back to Kansas City."



"I'm really happy for you. Congrats." Chelsea knew that sales like that kept Mallory's spirits up, especially in the spring. A lot of folks were still paying off Christmas bills in March, so the shop suffered a lot of slow days until the weather warmed up and she began selling biking and hiking gear.



"Thanks." Mallory smiled again, but she kept glancing past Chelsea's shoulder.



"What's going on behind me? Am I boring you?" she teased.



"I think she's having a hard time concentrating because the hotties from the fire station just blew in," Kaylee said. "Who can blame her though? It's hardly fair that five guys can look so good."



Chelsea's stomach sank. Of course the firefighters had to show up. It was the first night in ages that she'd gone out instead of hurrying home to Jack.



Not even pretending to look anywhere else, Mallory murmured, "That Mark Oldum is dreamy."



"So is Chip," Kaylee said. "I met him at the gas station a couple of weeks ago."



Oh brother. "How do you know those guys' names?" Chelsea asked her friends. "I didn't know you hung out with firefighters."



"I don't, which is the problem," Kaylee joked. "And, just for the record, I don't know all of their names. Just one or two. And I know because I asked Wendy up at the bar." Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she asked, "Why all the questions? I didn't think you were interested in dating. Or have you finally changed your mind?"



"It would be great if you did start going out," Mallory said. "All you do is work and go home."



"No, that's not all I do. I have Jack, remember? He keeps me plenty busy."



"I get that, but I think it's time you started doing more for yourself. Jack's almost nine, you know," Mallory added.



"Ha-ha, I know."



"Then you also know that he's going to want to start doing more things with his friends instead of just his mom, right?"



"I know that, too." But she also hated to think about it. When had he gotten so big, anyway?



Kaylee sighed. "If you know all that . . . isn't it time you started dating?"



"I've dated," she protested. Though, to be fair, she hadn't dated very much. She'd promised herself years ago to always put her little boy's needs ahead of her own. And, though he probably wouldn't mind if she dated occasionally, she never wanted to risk hurting him.



Or maybe she was simply afraid to risk hurting her heart again.



Anxious to push the attention elsewhere, she smiled at Mallory. "Who are you looking at now?"



"I'm trying to find where Mark went. I lost him in the crowd. I tell you what, half the station must be here."



Chelsea tried not to tense but it was next to impossible. Whenever she was someplace there was a chance of seeing Anderson Kelly, she couldn't help it. "What do the other guys look like?"

  Excerpted from Coming Home by Shelley Shepard Gray Copyright © 2022 by Shelley Shepard Gray. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.  

 
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Photo credit: Dianne Bomar

Saturday, November 26, 2022

BLOG TOUR - Death on a Winter Stroll


 

DESCRIPTION:

No-nonsense Nantucket detective Merry Folger grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and two murders as the island is overtaken by Hollywood stars and DC suits.

Nantucket Police Chief Meredith Folger is acutely conscious of the stress COVID-19 has placed on the community she loves. Although the island has proved a refuge for many during the pandemic, the cost to Nantucket has been high. Merry hopes that the Christmas Stroll, one of Nantucket’s favorite traditions, in which Main Street is transformed into a winter wonderland, will lift the island’s spirits. But the arrival of a large-scale TV production, and the Secretary of State and her family, complicates matters significantly.
 
The TV shoot is plagued with problems from within, as a shady, power-hungry producer clashes with strong-willed actors. Across Nantucket, the Secretary’s troubled stepson keeps shaking off his security detail to visit a dilapidated house near conservation land, where an intriguing recluse guards secrets of her own. With all parties overly conscious of spending too much time in the public eye and secrets swirling around both camps, it is difficult to parse what behavior is suspicious or not—until the bodies turn up.
 
Now, it’s up to Merry and Detective Howie Seitz to find a connection between two seemingly unconnected murders and catch the killer. But when everyone has a motive, and half of the suspects are politicians and actors, how can Merry and Howie tell fact from fiction?
 
This latest installment in critically acclaimed author Francine Mathews’ Merry Folger series is an immersive escape to festive Nantucket, a poignant exploration of grief as a result of parental absence, and a delicious new mystery to keep you guessing.

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

• “This fast-moving mystery packs in a lot, but never too much, and will work for fans of coming-of-age stories, police procedurals, and romance.” —First Clue
• “Fresh, well-wrought prose brings the setting of Nantucket to life. Mathews consistently entertains.” —Publishers Weekly
• “Christmas and death come to Nantucket . . . Plenty of fascinating characters and myriad motives make for an exciting read.” —Kirkus Reviews 
• “Mathews consistently places relationships at the forefront of her mysteries, and Merry's unique blend of tenacity and humanity makes her a heroine to root for.”—USA Today bestselling author Karen Odden, author of the Inspector Corravan mysteries

 

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

 

MY THOUGHTS:
 
Title:   Death on a Winter Stroll
Author:  Francine Matthews
Series:  A Merry Folger Nantucket Mystery #7
Publisher:  Soho Crime
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers 
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   289
Date of Publication:   November 1, 2022
My Rating:   4 Stars 

Police Chief Merry Folger’s life and work on Nantucket is anything but quiet. Her town, like everywhere around the world, is bouncing back from the pandemic, and they are not quite prepared for the newest influx of island visitors. 

Not only is there a large crowd from Hollywood filming on the island, the U. S. Secretary of State and his wife and difficult stepson are there as well. Quarantine wasn’t easy, and with all the new people suddenly flocking to the island, permanent residents are not happy. To really complicate things, the female lead in the Hollywood production is murdered. 

Merry’s job of discovering the murderer is not easy, as the list of suspects is long. Howie Seitz, one of Merry’s detectives, is leading the investigation, leaving Merry to another matter. When a woman is found dead who had been living in what was thought to be an abandoned house, Merry is determined to find out who she was and how she came to be living in the house. More than that, her manner of death is concerning to Merry. 

Although this is the seventh book in a series, I had not read the previous titles. Although it took a few pages to get to know Merry, the story flowed easily from there. Along with Merry and Howie as excellent protagonists, I enjoyed the two younger people in the story as well. They were the murdered lady’s son Ansel and Winter, the daughter of the lead actor in the production. They had deeper problems that were explored in this mystery, all while the investigations into the two deaths that were likely connected went on. Factoring in the effects COVID-19 had on so many lives gave another layer to this story. 

This intriguing story definitely caught my attention as it was well executed as well as entertaining and left me guessing. I definitely am looking forward to book eight in the series, as well as finding time to read the previous titles. 

Many thanks to Soho Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Francine Mathews was born in Binghamton, New York, the last of six girls. She attended Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied history, before going on to work as an intelligence analyst at the CIA. She wrote her first book in 1992 and left the Agency a year later. Since then, she has written thirty books, including six previous novels in the Merry Folger series (Death in the Off-Season, Death in Rough Water, Death in a Mood Indigo, Death in a Cold Hard Light, Death on Nantucket, and Death on Tuckernuck) as well as the nationally bestselling Being a Jane Austen mystery series, which she writes under the pen name Stephanie Barron. She lives and works in Denver, Colorado.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS


Thursday, November 24, 2022

BLOG TOUR - Paris at First Light


DESCRIPTION:
 

Paris, 1944secret agent Juliette is on her most dangerous mission of the war so far. But then her children are kidnapped, and to get them back she may have to commit the ultimate betrayal – that of France itself…

Four years ago, when France fell to the Nazis, 
Juliette made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind her two precious children to join the Resistance and defend her country. Now a spy in Paris, she must work with Captain Daniel Diaz – an American agent she’s taken an instant dislike to – on a dangerous mission to uncover a deadly Nazi plot.

As the pair play their parts, Juliette begins to see another side to Daniel, and their feelings for each other start to grow. But just as love blossoms, Juliette receives a ransom note that changes everything. Someone in Paris knows who she is. And they’ve kidnapped her little son and daughter. The message is clear: 
betray your country, or you’ll never see your children alive again.

Juliette has sworn a sacred oath to save France at all costs, but she could never sacrifice her children. So, against all the odds, she decides to attempt the impossible: rescue her children 
and continue her dangerous work fighting the Nazi threat.

But as the mission forces Juliette and Daniel to the very brink, will they succeed on all fronts? And if not, will France pay the ultimate price, or will Juliette?

A completely gripping and heart-wrenching historical novel about hope, betrayal and one mother’s limitless courage. Perfect for fans of The Alice NetworkThe Nightingale and My Name is Eva, this epic story will leave you breathless.


BUY LINKS:

https://geni.us/B0B8T1GV9Qsocial


Audible:

UK: http://ow.ly/9wxW50Lt0xr

US: http://ow.ly/HiJ450Lt0xs


Listen here: http://ow.ly/jGuA50Lt0xp


MY THOUGHTS:
 
Title:   Paris at First Light
Author:  Amanda Lees
Series:  WW2 Resistance Series #2
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Historical Fiction 
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:   353
Date of Publication:   November 23, 2022
My Rating:   5 Stars

Juliette know danger, even to the point of leaving her two children in the care of their grandmother while she continues in the critical role she has played since joining the Resistance. Advanced in her role as a spy, she has no choice but to join forces with Captain Daniel Diaz, an American agent. The two must work together in order to uncover a plot being set in place by their enemy. While at first Juliette and Daniel are like oil and water, they both begin to develop strong feelings towards each other, even to the point where love begins to solidify their relationship. 

Romance is not key to Juliette, especially when she receives news of the worst kind. Her children and mother are missing, even though they were being protected. Juliette’s role has been discovered and the kidnapping of those most precious to her leaves her with an ultimatum. If she does not turn traitor, her family will be lost to her forever. Save her children or save France. Determined to do both, Juliette plots a dangerous plan. 

What an amazing story by Amanda Lees! Any mother could imagine Juliette’s heart breaking in a million pieces with her worry for the safety of her children. However, it is her courage. Her strength. Even her loyalty that proves her incredible character. 

This powerful story was not an easy read. This was especially so when the reason behind the kidnapping led back to the horrific experiences Juliette had to deal with during her marriage. Now experiencing the worst kind of betrayal, Juliette must really dig deep to save those she loves. Meanwhile, any possible future with Daniel just might be lost forever. 

For a read that will keep you turning pages until the very end, look no further than Paris at First Light. In fact, for a read just as impactful I highly recommend the first book in this incredible series, The Silence Before Dawn. Both of these fabulous stories show strong and fearless women who survive the odds while making the most difficult choices. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.



Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amanda was born in Hong Kong and survived both a convent boarding school and a Jesuit boys’ school before being summarily ejected from the latter. She gets her thirst for adventure from her parents who met in the jungle in Borneo where her mother had set up a hospital and her father, a former Gurkha Intelligence officer and Oxford-educated spy, was probably up to no good.

She is the author of the bestselling satirical novels Selling Out and Secret Admirer (published by Pan) which have both received critical acclaim and have been translated into several languages. Her major YA thriller trilogy, Kumari, Goddess of Gotham, was written as a tribute to her mum, who died a couple of months before Amanda got the idea for a series which would reflect her own exotic childhood. Kumari was nominated for the Guardian Children’s Book Prize and the Doncaster Book Award. It featured as Redhouse Book Of The Month and Lovereading4kids Book Of The Month.

A broadcaster as well as an actress and novelist, Amanda appears regularly on BBC radio and LBC and was a contracted writer to the hit series Weekending on Radio 4. She researched and edited the leading directory for banks, The Banker’s Almanac, for Euromoney publications while also covering stories of shady dealings in the City for them. She has written for, or contributed to, The Evening Standard, The Times, New Woman, US Cosmopolitan, Bulgaria's Vagabond and Company Magazine as well as numerous online publications and has two non-fiction books published under a pen name.

Amanda has conducted a love coaching phone-in from the sofa of Richard & Judy and wooed the viewers on Channel 5 Live. She won an award at the Hungarian Gyor Film Festival for a short film she produced, a psychological thriller called Pros and Cons.

Her book, From Aconite to the Zodiac Killer: The Dictionary of Crime, was published by Robinson/Little Brown in July 2020 to excellent reviews. It was published in the US by Ulysses Press in May 2021. She has just completed the first in a romantic thriller series set at the end of WW2. 

Author Social Media Links
Website: amandalees.com
Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/amanda-lees/

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Win a Free Audiobook

 


Do you want to be in with the chance to win one of these six awesome Bookouture audiobooks?! To enter, all you have to do is like and comment your favorite audiobook ever on my Instagram post, and make sure you're following me and @bookouture! UK and US only. T&Cs apply


Entries close at midnight tonight!